The “Return of Serve".”
This is the serve every pickleball player MUST have. It is a safe serve that will keep the returner without many options to be aggressive. This is the serve to use 90% of the time and especially when it is a crucial or critical point in the game.
This speed of the ball should be hit to allow you to get to the NVM
The main goal of the return is to get to the NVM. A deep serve will require a slow, gloating return 5-6 feet over the net. A short serve can be hit more aggressively 3-4 feet over the net.
A high percentage of returns should land in the “safe” zone (the oval).
The safe zone is a approximately 3 feet from the baseline and 3 feet from the sidelines. It is an oval that favors 1). the “left side of the court” and 2). the middle of the court. This will reduce the angles that the server team has available to attack. Like many things in pickleball, variation is a key part to the game. But this safe return should be mastered
Slow high returns can disrupt the hard hitter.
Most players that hit “hard” serves do not like slow returns. They like pace. So learning how to “float” a hard serve back is critical. A hard serve will require a return where vary little backswing is required (forehand or backhand)
The approach to the NVM should be “aggressive”.
Even the best players have peripheral vision that will see you approach the net. Coming to the NVM aggressively will put them on notice you are there to attack their third shot.